In hostilities that began in February, the Tatmadaw rebuked longstanding ceasefire agreements with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Shan State Army – North (SSA-N). In May and June, Tatmadaw attacks in Southern Kachin State and Northern and Southern Shan State escalated. The escalation of hostilities caused 13,000 refugees to flee from their homes in Kachin State. Tatmadaw forces gang-raped 18 women in Kachin State – six of whom were killed after being raped.

In Northern Shan State, the Tatmadaw’s strategy to sever the SSA-N’s supply lines resulted in the forced relocation and detention of hundreds of villagers. Ongoing clashes caused the death of 15 civilians.

In Karen State, there were numerous clashes between Tatmadaw forces with the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). Over 1,800 residents in Karen State fled to Thailand as a result of the hostilities and five civilians were killed. The conflict has caused many soldiers in the regime Border Guard Force (BGF) to desert and join the KNLA and the DKBA.

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